Vague Pronouns

Standards  ELACC6L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.  d. Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous antecedents).*

Learning Targets  By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:  Identify vague pronouns  Correct vague pronouns

Pronouns PPronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence. EExamples: He, She, It, You, We, They, Us, Them, Him, Her and many more. TThe noun that the pronoun refers to is called an antecedent. EExample: Billy Bob loves to go ice-skating; however, he always slips and falls. AAfter mom baked chocolate chip cookies, Sam ate three of them.

Vague Pronouns Confusing Unclear Leaves the reader wondering Could refer to one or more noun antecedent Interrupts the meaning of the sentence Vague Pronouns

Examples IIncorrect: Molly hit Susan, and she started crying. SShe is your pronoun; nonetheless, the reader is confused about who started crying. CCorrect: Molly hit Susan, and Susan started crying. IIncorrect: Jan thumped her foot on the chair, and it turned red. IIt is your pronoun, but once again the reader cannot tell if the antecedent is the foot or the chair. CCorrect: Jan thumped her foot on the chair, and Jan’s foot turned red.

IIncorrect: If the children do not eat the rest of the string beans, please throw them away. TThem is your pronoun; however, what is being thrown away? CCorrect: If the children do not eat the rest of the string beans, please throw the beans away.

TThere are cases where there is no antecedent at all. IIncorrect: The girl called the radio station, but they didn’t answer. TThey is your pronoun, but who is they referring to? TThe radio station cannot answer the phone. CCorrect: The girl called the radio station, but the radio personnel didn’t answer the phone. IIncorrect: I did not attend her class today which was very irresponsible. WWhat was irresponsible? AA class cannot be irresponsible? CCorrect: I did not attend her class today. My actions were very irresponsible.

Quiz  Directions: Tell what the vague pronoun in each sentence and if the pronoun clearly refers to the back to the antecedent that it’s replacing. If the sentence has a vague pronoun, fix the sentence. 1. The children watched the fireworks as they flew across the sky. 2. Alex dropped the glass table on his foot, and it broke. 3. Sandy went to the fire station, but they were not there. 4. Ashley told Sally that she lost her cell phone, and she begin to cry.

Answers 1. The children watched the fireworks as they flew across the sky. Vague pronoun: They Correct: The children watched the fireworks as the fireworks flew across the sky. 2. Alex dropped the glass table on his foot, and it broke. Vague pronoun: It Correct: Alex dropped the glass table on his foot, and the table broke.

3. Sandy went to the fire station, but they were not there. Vague Pronoun: They Correct: Sandy went to the fire station, but the workers were not there. Or Sandy went to the fire station, but the firefighters were not there. Ashley told Sally that she lost her cell phone, and she begin to cry. Vague Pronoun: She Correct: Ashley told Sally that she lost her cell phone, and Ashley begin to cry.